Grocer s cabinet



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. M. GOFF. GROGEBJS CABINET.

No. 529,528. Patented NOV. Z0, 1894..

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. M. GOP?. GROGBR'S CABINET.

N0. 529,528,l Patented Nov, 20, 1894.

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Hdigesses UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

JOSEPH MARSHALL GOFF, OF RUSTON, LOUISIANA.

GROCERS CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,528, dated November 20, 1894. Application filed December 21, 1893- Serial No. 494,328. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MARSHALL GOFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ruston, in the parish of Lincoln and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Grocers Cabinet, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to grocers cabinets, and it has for its object to provide an improved cabinet which is intended for general store use, but which is particularly useful in retailing groceries and hardware.

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is to combine a goodscabinet with a store counter, whereby simple and convenient means shall be provided for retailing diiferent kinds of articles and goods to be sold, and especially for weighing the articles as the same are taken from the receptacles containing the same, and furthermore besides providing means for rapidly weighing articles to be sold, the cabinet will subserve the function of a show case and will keep the articles intact from dust, flies, &c.

With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the drawingsz-Figure l is a perspective view of a grocers cabinet constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar view including one of the supplemental or shot boxes, showing particularly the fastening for the pivoted gate thereof. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing more clearly the supports for the tilting boxes or receptacles for nails and the like. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional View of one of the su pplemental boxes.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a store counter suitably supported on the legs B, at about the ordinary elevation from the floor, so as to be conveniently disposed for the store keeper in retailing his goods. The counter A, is preferably provided in the front thereof with any desired number of drawer openings B', which are adapted to receive the drawers C, having the pull knobs c, and adapted to be supported on the rollers c', arranged below the counter in a line with the bottom edge of each drawer opening, whereby such drawers may be easily pulled out and shoved back in position. The drawers C, are adapted to contain or hold any articles which it may be desirable to keep as much out of 4the air as possible, and are intended to be of sufficient sizes to accommodate an entire package, or whatever quantity of the article maybe in stock.

The counterA, is constructed in any length or width desired according to the size of the cabinet required for use, and arranged longitudinally on top of the counter near the front edge thereof is the scaletrack D, on which are arranged to travel the wheeled scales E. .The scales E, may be of any approved construction, and are simply mounted upon wheels whereby the same can be quickly run from one part of the counter to another, in order to weigh goods which may be taken out of the drawers C, or which may be allowed to fall directly thereinto from the receptacles to be more particularly referred to. The .scales track D, is arranged in front of the upright cabinet supporting frame F, which arises from the rear portion of the counter, and a portion of which'frame is formed by extending the supporting legs IE, of the counter, the desired distance thereabove. Thefrontstandards of the cabinet supporting frame F, are sufficiently in rear of the track D, so that the scales may be properly disposed in aline directly under the discharges of the several receptacles, and to also permit the scales to be turned about and handled freely without being brought against the said supporting frame.

The supporting frame, F, has been termed a cabinet supporting frame, and the same consists of the upright frame standards f, connected at their upper ends by the side and end pieces f', which form an upper inclined supporting edge for the compartment box G, which is arranged thereon. The compartment box G, is suitably fitted on top of the frame F, and forms the main portion of the cabinet proper, although the said supporting frame is simply intended to support this box properly in position. The compartment box G, is constructed in a length and width ac,- cording tothe size of counter above which IOO it is supported, and is intended to be divided into a number of separate bins or compartiments H, which are separated from each other by the vertical partition walls I. These partition walls I, are spaced from each other sufficient distances apart according to the size of bin or compartment to be made, and the fronts of each bin or compartment H,are inclosed by the glass-covered openings J, which are disposed sufliciently above the solid front portion of the bins, to be relieved of much of the weight therein, and at the sam-. time serve to exhibit or show the goods to the storeman as well as the customer.

The compartment box G, is provided with an inclined bottom K, which extends the entire length thereof and declines from the rear wall lto a point in close proximity to the front wall thereof,and.from the lower .edge of the inclined bottom of the boxV G, or of each bin or .compartment thereof, -is extended a ,short feedslope L. The short feed slope L, is disposed at a sharper angle than themain in# c lined bottom of the compartment box, and abruptly leads ed from thesame as a direct front continuation thereof so as togive an impetus to the articles or material when the same are escaping from the bins through the short ol-standin g discharge ch utes M leading to the front lower .discharge openings m, of each bin.

The short od-.standing dischargechutes M, are of a substantialrectangularshapm being closed on all sides, and project downwardly and laterally from the front wall of ,the compartment box at the same angle as the short feed slope L,.and are adapted to `have their outer ope-nends disposed directly above the center of the pan of the scales, when such scales are run under any one of said discharge chutes. The outer lower ends of the chutes M,are adapted to be covered and uncovered by the pivoted gates N, having handles n, for convenient manipulation, and, when closed, thesaidgatesare preferably locked so as to prevent accidental opening by means of the turnfbuckles n', pivoted on top of the chutes M, near their lower edges, and at Vthe lower outer edges of each chute ar-e preferably arranged the liexible iianges n2., which serve to evenly feed the material or articles into the scale pan, and also to prevent clogging at the mouth of such chutes by yielding downwardly incase of the material crowding the outlet at that point.

All of theseveral bins of the compartment box are constructed on the same plan as the drawers of the cabinet, that is, to hold a sack, barrel, orany other quantity of the goods kept in stock, and the same are inclosed at the top by the removable flanged covers P. The said bins are intended to hold different kinds of articles such as spices, coffees, teas, flour, &c., and in order to facilitate the free discharge from some of the bins it is necessary to employ agitators fp. The agitators p,

are journaled longitudinally in the bins in which they are placed ,and comprise asingle wire having alternately arranged bends p forming agitating blades, and provided at one end with a crank `handle p2, so that the same may be easily turned.

The const ruction just described, forms substantially the grocery part of the cabinet, but in addition to the bins or compartment box, l preferably arrange a series of supplemental boxes or receptacles Q, on the outer front Wall of said compartment box. The supplemental boxes Q, are usually fitted onto the front wall of the compartment box between the o-standing discharge chutes M, thereof, and are provided with the front glass openings q, whereby the ,contents of the boxes may be readilyseen, and such contents are usually shot orsimlal articles. The supplemental .0r .shot lboxes Q, are provided with lower beveled ends g', in which are formed tlldischarge .openings q2, disposed 'the dem@ angle as the chutes M, so as to l,feed directly into the scale pans.

The discharge .openings q2., are covered and uncovered by the pivoted .gates R, mounted on thebeveled lower ends,;a-nd these gates are provided with the slotted handles ogwhich accommodatethe finger flanges r3 of the drop latches frs, `which are mounted on the rear sides of the handles Iand are ladapted to automa-tically engage the locking notches lr, formed in the front sidesof the boxes Q.. By raising the drop latches withl the thumb, the gates R, may be moved to uncover the discharge openings of the boxes Q, but when thrown back to their closed positions aga-inst the stops fr, the latches automatically .drop into the notches r4.

At one end of the compartment box G, and on top of the rear portion of the counter A, is arranged a supplemental supporting frame S. The supporting frame S, is provided with a transverse series of parallel bearing bars s, inclined both ways from the oentervas at s', and provided with bearing notches s2, in their top edges, and to the front ends of the transverse bearing barss, at theffront'upper edge of the frame S, is arrangedthe front chute rail T, which is disposed at the same angle as the chutes M, and has attached thereto the pairs of converging 4chute boards which serve to direct the material fed therebetween ontothe soales,.when run thereunder. ,Thesaid chute boards z5, are `iiared toward theirupper ends in order to snugly receive the open'ends of the tilting boxes or receptacles t. The tilting boxes or receptacles t', are mounted on axles t2, the ends of which are journaled in the top bearing notches s2, of the bearin g bars,

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and are provided at one side with the handles t4, whereby the same may be readily tilted forward to bring the front discharge openings between the upper ends of the chute boards t. These tilting boxes orreceptacles are preferably intended to hold nails orsimilarhard ware, the weight ofwhich normally overhalances the same to bring the rear closed ends thereof onto the rear rest rail U, attached to the rear ends of the bearing bars s, and to facilitate the discharge of the nails or like hardware from the boxes 25',I employ a rake or similar implement u, which may be manipulated with the right hand, while the handle 254, is grasped with the left hand. Any number of these boxes or receptacles may be employed and may be constructed in any desired sizes, according to the size of cabinet manufactured.

In order to render the cabinet available for retailing all classes of goods I supplement the devices already described, with means for retailing rope,wire, dac., and at any desired number of points under the compartment box G, I attach to the frame F, separate pairs of bearing cleats V, having open bearing notches r, in their upper edges, and which are adapted to removably receive the spindle ends of rope or wire reels W. These reels may be of any specific construction, and are removably locked in position by the weighted bearing latches X, pivoted at one end above one of the bearing cleats of each pair, and normally resting on top of one spindle extremity of the reel, so that it is simply necessary to liftthe reels in and out of position when filling the same, by lifting up the latches X while at the same time means are provided for holding them steady when working. The rope or Wire on the reels, is passed therefrom through suitable guide openings 0:', at suitable points in the counter, and is brought ont to the front of the counter and passed around suitable cleatsso as to beconvenientto thestoreman.

At a point in a line below the several reels are arranged measuring drums Y, around which the rope or wire is passed, and these drums are provided with the o-standing pins y, adapted, at each revolution of the drums, to be brought under the rock arms y', fitted to the longitudinally arranged indicating shaft Z. which also carries at a suitable point a hammer z, which works over an alarm bell e', supported under the counter. As the rope or Wire is pulled out, in retailing the same, the measuring drums will indicate, through the medium of the alarm bell, the precise length of rope which is being sold.

Various modifications and adaptations of the constructions herein described may be observed, and I will have it understood that changesin the form, proportion and the minor detailsof construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacricing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus descrlbed the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Let- 1. In a grocers cabinet, the combination with a counter havinga track, and the wheeled scales; of acompartment box supported above the counter at one side of the track and having short off-standing inclosed discharge chutes projected from the front lower end thereof and disposed directly above said track, said chutes being provided at their lower outer edges with downwardly yielding flexible flanges, pivot-ed gates inclosing the outer ends of said chutes beyond the flanges thereof, and latches to lock the gates in their closed position.

2. In a grocers cabinet, the combination with a counter having a track, andthe wheeled scales; of a compartment box supported above the counter at one side of and away from the track and provided with an inclined bottom, and a short front feed slope declining downwardly and sharply from the inclined bottom as a front continuation thereof, short rectangularside-inclosed discharge chutes projected from the front lower side ofthe compartment box with their bottoms in alignment with tho short feed slope, and gates arranged at the outer ends of said discharge chutes, substantially as set forth.

3.' In a grocers cabinet, the combination with the compartment box having front lower discharges, of a series of supplemental glass covered boxes or receptacles mounted on the front wall of said compartment box and having lower beveled ends provided With discharge openings, and front locking notches, gates pivoted to the lower beveled ends of said boxes or receptacles and having slotted handles,'and drop latches mounted on the handles of said gates and provided with finger anges moving in the slots thereof, substantially as set forth.

4. In a grocers cabinet, the combination with the counter having a track, and the Wheeled scales; of a supporting frame arising from the counter and having a transverse series of parallel bearing bars, and separate pairs of converging chute boards disposed at an angle over the track, and tilting boxes or receptacles having axles journaled on top of said supporting frame, substantially as set forth.

5. In a grocers cabinet, the combination with the counter havinga track and Wheeled scales, of a frame arising above the counter at one side of the track and having a transverse series of parallel bearing bars, a front inclined chute rail and a rear rest rail, said bearing bars being inclined both Ways from the center, separate pairs of converging chute boards attached to said chute rail, and normally overbalanced tilting boxes or receptacles having axles journaled on said bearing bars, handles, and front discharge openings adapted to be lowered between the chute boards, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH MARSHALL GOFF.

Vit nesses:

E. HOWARD, Q. H. GRIFFIN.

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